Calls for Contributors

Special Issue of Kansas History: Latino/a Experiences in Kansas

The history of Latino/as in the United States is often told through the experiences of communities along the U.S.–Mexico border and in the American Southwest. Yet Kansas, situated at the crossroads of the Great Plains, has long been shaped by connections to Mexico and Latin America. Latino/a communities have played an important role in shaping the state's economic, social, and cultural landscape, extending far beyond migration and labor. Despite their longstanding presence, these experiences remain insufficiently integrated into dominant narratives of Kansas and Great Plains history. How might recovering these histories challenge conventional understandings of the region? What can Kansas reveal about migration, identity, race, community formation, and transnational connections beyond the Southwest?

Kansas History invites original scholarship exploring the diverse experiences of Mexican American, Latino/a, and Latin American communities in Kansas, from the colonial era to the present. Possible subjects include migration and labor, education and civil rights, religion, gender, entrepreneurship, cultural expression, community activism, historical memory, and connections between Kansas and Latin America. The special issue will be guest edited by Valerie Mendoza (independent public historian) and Marco Macias (Fort Hays State University).

Specifications: We welcome scholarly articles, photo essays, historiographical studies, and contributions employing interdisciplinary or public history approaches. Submissions should total approximately 8,000-10,000 words, saved in .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word) format, double spaced in Times New Roman 12 pt. font, with footnotes in the Chicago style (18th ed.). No identifying features (author byline, etc.) should appear in the file. Previously published articles, articles produced with artificial intelligence/LLM/text generative technology, or manuscripts under consideration for publication elsewhere will not be considered.

Submission Information: We welcome communication from prospective authors about potential submissions and are happy to answer questions. Please submit inquiries and/or your article (along with a short CV or introductory email) to khjournal@ksu.edu. The editors will review submissions received before September 1, 2027.

Special Issue of Kansas History: Populism

Kansas History invites original scholarly contributions for a special issue examining the history of Populism in Kansas. The issue will explore the emergence, development, and legacies of Populist thought and activism within the state and its broader regional and national contexts, under the direction of a guest editor, Dr. Cory Haala (South Dakota State University).

We welcome academic articles that provide fresh interpretations of Kansas Populism or place the movement in dialogue with wider histories of agrarian politics, labor, reform societies, and political coalition-building. Submissions should advance a clear historical argument and engage with relevant historiography. We especially welcome submissions that address topics including, but not limited, to: the birth of the Farmers’ Alliance, women’s political engagement, electoral campaigns, economic reform agendas, religious dimensions, the role of minority or immigrant communities, or the continuing influence of Populist ideas in Kansas public life. We accept submissions from graduate students as well as established scholars.

Specifications: Submissions should total approximately 8,000-10,000 words, saved in .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word) format, double spaced in Times New Roman 12 pt. font, with footnotes in the Chicago style (18th ed.). No identifying features (author byline, etc.) should appear in the file. Previously published articles, articles produced with artificial intelligence/LLM/text generative technology, or manuscripts under consideration for publication elsewhere will not be considered.

Submission Information: We welcome communication from prospective authors about potential submissions and are happy to answer questions. Please submit inquiries and/or your article (along with a short CV or introductory email) to editor Kristen Epps at khjournal@ksu.edu and guest editor Cory Haala at cory.haala@sdstate.edu. The editors will review submissions received before February 1, 2027.